Q. What is Toastmasters?
A. Toastmasters is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to improving communication and leadership skills in a friendly, supportive environment. Many people join to conquer a fear of public speaking or simply keep their skills fresh. Toastmasters allows you to get plenty of practice through the Competent Communication manual, which includes 10 self-paced speech projects that target different aspects of speech-giving. When you complete your CC manual, you can move onto 15 advanced manuals focused on specialty areas, such as humorous or persuasive speaking. Every meeting also includes Table Topics, an impromptu speaking exercise that forces you to think on your feet. Written and oral evaluations from your peers help you improve with every meeting. The second Toastmasters track is the Competent Leadership manual, which you complete by filling roles at the meetings or helping with other club responsibilities. Learn more at the Toastmasters International website.
Q. What’s the time commitment?
A. It’s up to you. Our club meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month over the lunch hour. We hope that people come as often as they can to support their fellow members as they give speeches, but we understand that sometimes you just can’t break away from the office. If you’ve committed to giving a speech or filling another role at the meeting (such as a speech evaluator), we especially hope you make it. But again, we know that things come up! We’re a very flexible group.
Q. Is the club open to students or people from outside of Marquette?
A. Our club launched in October 2010 as a club for Marquette employees, but members voted in September 2011 to open the group to others in the community. Everyone is welcome!
Q. How much does it cost?
A. It doesn’t cost anything to visit! If you decide you’d like to officially join the club, there is a $20 new member fee and then it’s $36 for dues every six months, or a pro-rated amount depending on when you join. All of the money goes straight to Toastmasters International to pay for our manuals and other materials, and many of our members have been able to expense their dues as part of their professional development plans. Toastmasters is an absolute bargain compared to some public speaking courses that can cost you around $2,000.
Q. How can I get involved?
A. You’re welcome to visit us anytime! We meet at rotating locations throughout campus (most often in the AMU), so to get on our email list or learn more, contact VP of Membership via email at: marqourwords@gmail.com
